Method and apparatus for controlling shifting of data out of at least one image sensor

Abstract

Shifting of data out of at least one image sensor is controlled by a programmable sequencer table. Sampling of the shifted data is also controlled by the sequencer table. The sequencer table is programmed with at least one pattern for controlling shifting of data out of the image sensor and sampling of the shifted data. The pattern programmed into the sequencer table depends upon the image sensor. Output of the pattern from the sequencer table is controlled by a sequencer control block. The sequencer table and the sequencer control block may be included in a single application specific integrated circuit which may be implemented in, e.g., a scanner. This provides flexibility in the selection of image sensors, without requiring different circuits for controlling shifting of data out of the image sensors.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling shifting of data out of different image sensors, the apparatus comprising: 
 a sequencer table programmed with a pattern for controlling shifting of data out of a particular image sensor, wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table depends upon the particular image sensor, and    a sequencer control block for controlling the output of the sequencer table to control shifting of data out of the particular image sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pattern is delivered from the sequencer table to an image sensor interface to control shifting of data out of the image sensor.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table depends on timing requirements of the image sensor interface.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sequencer table and the sequencer control block are included in an application specific integrated circuit.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table also controls sampling of the data shifted out of the image sensor.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table includes information indicating when to sample the data shifted out of the image sensor.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the pattern for controlling shifting of data out of the image sensor is delivered from the sequencer table to an image sensor interface, and a portion of the pattern for controlling sampling of shifted data is delivered from the sequencer table to an analog front end.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table includes steps.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each step represents one state of a sequence of shifting data out of the image sensor and sampling shifted data.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one rate timer for defining the duration of each step in the sequencer table.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sequencer control block controls the rate timer.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the same duration is defined for each step.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sequencer control block controls multiple rate timers for defining different durations for different steps.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the number of steps in the sequencer table is adjustable.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the sequencer control block determines the number of steps.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the number of patterns in the sequencer table is adjustable.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is included in a scanner.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is a charge coupled device (CCD).  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is a contact image sensor (CIS).  
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling shifting of data out of different image sensors, the method comprising: 
 accessing a pattern programmed into a sequencer table for controlling shifting of data out of a particular image sensor, wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table depends upon the particular image sensor; and    outputting the pattern from the sequencer table for controlling shifting of data out of the at least one image sensor.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the pattern is delivered from the sequencer table to an image sensor interface to control shifting of data out of the image sensor.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table depends on timing requirements of the image sensor interface.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a sequencer control block controls the output of the pattern from the sequencer table.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the sequencer control block and the sequencer table are included in an application specific integrated circuit.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising controlling sampling of the data shifted out of the image sensor.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the pattern programmed into the sequencer table includes information indicating when to sample the data shifted out of the image sensor.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein a portion of the pattern for controlling shifting of data out of the image sensor is delivered from the sequencer table to an image sensor interface, and a portion of the pattern for controlling sampling of shifted data is delivered from the sequencer table to an analog front end.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pattern in the sequencer table includes steps.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein each step represents one state of a sequence of shifting data out of the image sensor and sampling shifted data.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of providing the pattern includes defining the duration of each step in the sequencer table.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the same duration is defined for each step.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein different durations are defined for different steps.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the number of steps in the sequencer table is adjustable.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the number of patterns in the sequencer table is adjustable.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the image sensor is included in a scanner.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the image sensor is a charge coupled device (CCD).  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the image sensor is a contact image sensor (CIS).